Sixth DAY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1897, 1 February 1875, Page 2

Sixth DAY.

Day. (continued.) On Saturday two great events in the Interprovincial firing were decided—two events in which the interest of most persons who interest themselves at all is centred—namely, the result of the competition for the Champion Belts, Infantry and Cavalry. The fore part of the day was m«st unpropitious, but the weather cleared up towards tjie afternoon, when large numbers of people were attracted to tho Camp, to watch the progress of the matches to their completion. The interest was manifestly enormous, and became intensified at the last range of the 7th Match- Each shot of the' •probable winners was ■ watebed very closely. A number of spectators h?d provided themselves with pieces of paper, upon which they had noted ■ down the scores, and on all sides members of the fourth estate present on duty were questioned as to the position of thif or that man in the match. A more spirited scene could scarcely be imagined in a' contest of this kind. Very little hopes were placed upon Hoskins since he lost ground by making those unfortunate' misses, while regret and sympathy on the part of Thamesites were general. He fought hard for the Infantry Belt,,and well; and we confess to being considerably surprised at his failing in the latter ranges, in which he is usually good, For one miss he accounts by that his elbow slipped, and on Saturday it seemed he trusted in the opinion of another man touching the windage to be allowed, and failed to hit the target in consequence thereof. Little fear was felt for Hoskins at the beginning of this match, because great reliance was placed upon 'his' coolness,' and ability to shoot well at the long langes. It must therefore be accounted a- great piece of ill-luck which attended the some-time Champion of New Zealand in this year's firing, and not an evidence Qf inferiority as a marks-' man. At and before the 400 yards range was fired the chances of Wilson (of Otago) and Leigh (of Auckland) were looked upon as bein^ pretty considerable, and at the termination of the 500 yards range Wilson still held his place* but Hoskins and Elder had jumped above Leigh who 'took fifth place i m.the aggregate./ Then .came the grand i struggle, firing' at. the six hundred yards i range, in which the calm enduring nerve necessary to prize shootists was to be I tried to the utmost.- Wilson lbsifc ground at this range, .and Leigh': fell back, whilo Elder and Goldie fell off considerably, and as is now known' the end of the match saw Skinner a winner (for Auckland) of the. Champion Belt for this year. * ;